Teacher Retirement Gift?

You are a thoughtful person but don't put the pressure on yourself to give her a gift that is supposed to represent all 36 years of her wonderful service, especially if you have only known her a year. The only kind of gift that would be truly representative of a retirement with that many years of service is a reunion - gathering up as many of her colleagues and former students as you can. If you go that route, you should be able to find plenty of help to put something together by the end of the school year or even the first of the summer, if the teacher will be up to it. You can have your daughter present her with a special gift or read a special poem. Otherwise, a personalized gift from your daughter, mentioning your gratitude of the teacher's 36 years, is probably the only thing you could do. Find out what she plans to do during her retirement and if she has any hobbies/favorite things.

Another idea is a sort of rememberance book. When my father retired, I found a book at Barnes and Noble that asked all kinds of questions for someone who wanted to remember their life - it was sort of like a scrapbook but without the pictures. It looked like a journal and I believe I even found it in the journal section of the store. The questions were like "what is your first memory as a child" and "list all the homes you lived in and what you remember about them" and "what were the names of your favorite friends growing up" - really thought provoking memory questions. I believe there were questions relevant to someone's life as an adult too. Or I'm sure you can make one, and just look up different lists of life questions on the internet. Good luck and I'm sure whatever you decide will be wonderful and from the heart.

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One of the best gifts that I have ever gotten was given to me 20 years ago by a group of youth when I was the Summer Youth Director at their Church for 2 consecutive summers. They gave each of the youth a piece of white cloth and they decorated the cloth (some with paint, some with iron-on transfers, some more creative ones by sewing on things, etc.). When it was complete, they sewed the pieces together and "quilted" it together to make a blanket. I used it as a bed-spread through the rest of my college and graduate school years and now it is a keepsake which is sometimes brought out to wrap around me on the couch!

I know that you don't have a lot of time, but you could get this gift to her AFTER her official leaving and I am sure that she would still appreciate it. Actually, you could get students in her class to do a panel after she leaves - this would probably help the new teacher get to know the students and how they feel about this teacher who is leaving by helping them create something for her. You could have some of her previous students make the panels and some teachers and other school staff who have known her for a long time. The good news is that you can make the panels as big or as small as you want.

Footnote: I saw that one of the Mom's suggested a memory book - you can also get bound books like that through a local printer. Also, somewhere, I have a book that I wrote for a church children's group when I was leaving their Church called "Everyone Says Goodbye", I had it bound for each of the children... you can email me and if I can find the document, I will email it to you. My email address is: ____@____.com

Hope this helps.

blessings,
stacy

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As a teacher of 34 years, it means so much just to know that parents appreciate that we have touched the lives of so many children and families in a positive way. ANY form of appreciation or recognition means so much. Draw on your own particular talent and involve your daughter as much as possible.
If you don't have time to make something then a gift card to Border's Book store would be great. If you were able to involve all the teachers in the school as well as MANY parents to pitch in about $10.00 each you could purchase a Kindle which would be great for providing very inexpensive reading throughout her retirement. I LOVE my Kindle.

If she has a hobby, put together a gift basket with some items that she could use to enjoy her hobby like Scrapbooking tools and papers,etc.

It's just so great that you appreciate this teacher enough to want to give back.
Pam H.

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How about a book, or a set of books, dedicated to her and presented to either the school, her church or the community library. You can take a trip to a Hallmark store and find lots of stuff. There are several poems/essays about teachers that can be put on a computer and make a booklet for her, or take a favorite one, copy and frame for her to keep.

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What do you think she would like to do after she is done teaching? My daughters favorite teacher left to become a missionary in Africa. We went to half priced books and bought her books about Africa, and a photo album to capture her adventures. You could get her gardening supplies or scrap booking. Good luck!

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Any way you could find out from the other teachers what your child's soon-to-be-retired teacher's hobbies are? If she's into gardening, perhaps you could get her a small canvas tote bag (w/ pockets). In the pockets, you could put a couple of seed packets, package of bulbs in another pocket, a trowel in another pocket (found at a dollar store, I'm sure), etc. You get the idea, right? You could probably put the whole thing together for $10-12.
If she's into sewing, do the same thing as far as a tote bag but put sewing items in the pockets instead.
If she's into hiking/the great outdoors, buy her a fannypack filled w/ must haves like chapstick, first aid kit, granola bars, etc.
Hope this helped!
-Jen

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Hi K.,

Have you ever thought about a Gift Certificate somewhere? I know some of them can be expensive, but she might really appreciate that. To the movies, to a great restaurant, etc....

If that's too expensive, maybe try getting together with the other Moms in the class and do a class gift. One year with one of my boys, one of the Moms took a small $ donation from each student, (secretly from teacher of course) and she did an adorable craft project. She had all the students place their handprints (painted diff. colors) on a big Terra Cotta Pot that she had painted. She then planted bulbs in the pot, and made sure the outside was sealed well after all the little handprints were on. The teacher cried and was so moved by the gesture, and I'm sure she still has that sweet terra cotta pot on her patio. Just a suggestion! Good luck!

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How much time do you have? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Cut squares of white or light colored fabric. Have each child draw a picture in crayon and sign their name. Iron the crayon to set it. (Put foil under the piece and tissue paper over it for pressing so that it won't bleed through to the ironing board or get on your iron.) Use a complimentary fabric to put strips between the squares and to back the quilt. A small size as a wall hanging or a bit larger as a throw, would make a nice "memory" gift and it could be from all the children.

2. A really pretty handkerchief.

3. A gift card for a restaurant. Marie Callender's, Olive Garden, etc.

4. Fresh flowers on her last day at school.

Most retirement age people do not need to collect more objects. Though a book of poetry might be nice but I just think that because I like poetry! Usually things that can be used up are best. You are a wonderful, giving person.

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What about a beautiful Christmas tree ornament, possibly personalized? Can you do a photo of her with her last class in a pretty frame? You could mat it, and get the kids to sign the mat. That looks nice, and doesn't have to be expensive.

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When I was in 6th grade (1972) my mother and I made a terrarium for my teacher for an occasion such as what you describe. We got the glass container, soil, carefully chose the small plants and a decoration or two, and made this. With the lid on they water themselves. You can find directions online. It must have made an impression on me because I still remember the directions to add two teaspoons of water before closing it. We added a beautiful bow.

A nice message on a card about how she has nurtured children in their growth would tie it all together.

I'm glad you asked this. It brought back a good memory for me.

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When my dad retired from teaching 6th grade for over 20 years, his class, former students who could be contacted and the other teachers with whom he worked each wrote a letter or drew a picture or made a photograph representing what he meant to that person. The teacher who taught next to him compiled them into an album with a neat cover. He gets that album out to look at it about once a month. It is a nice memory for him.

I know you don't have a lot of time, but try talking to the other parents of students in the class to see if everyone can write a letter for the album. Even if you can't give it to her on her last day, it would be a sweet gesture.

Good Luck!

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Hi K.,

How about dedicating a star to her. On "DEDICATE A STAR.COM" you can purchase a gift for her in which you could pick a star in her name and I think you even get a certificate that you can give to her. I thought maybe you could give her that with a beautiful plant, planted in a pot hand painted by your daughter or her classroom. Also, I thought that maybe you can give her a gift basket with a bunch of different gift certificates from different stores or restaurants and fill the basket with maybe some of her favorite snacks, coffee or teas, magazines, or whatever you think she might enjoy relaxing with after she retires.
Best of luck to you!

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As a former teacher who is now a stay at home mom, I think that if you could help your child write a note or letter to the teacher with illustrations (if possible) about how much the teacher means to your child.....that would be a wonderful, heart-felt gift of gratitude. Low cost and very much appreciated by the teacher as well. She will treasure the note or letter forever.
Hope that this helps.

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I once sent a simple thank you note to a teacher, and she later told me that it was the only thank you note she had ever recieved in her entire career. Just a thought.

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How about taking a large terracotta pot and having the kids put their name & handprint on it with paint. You can put a plant or flowers in it, if you choose.

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what about having your child write a poem or if not that simply her thoughts to her teacher about how she has blessed her life and then have the poem framed for the teacher? Those always touch a heart!

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K.,
I agree that most teachers get way too many little knick knacks or soaps and lotions. My mother taught school and we loved it, but she didn't even look at them. she thanked the children and let us go at it.
The thing that this woman might appreciate most is a heartfelt note from you and another from your daughter telling her how much she has meant to both of you and thanking her for it. If you can give specific incidents that were especially meaningful that is even better. Most of us go through life having no idea of what impact we make or when.
If your daughter really feels the need to give something more, then have her paint one of those inexpensive flower pots from the home stores and fill it with plants that are for sale now. Inexpensive, pretty and you can always use more flowers.

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You've received tons of great ideas. Since you sew, what about a bag/purse that you make and it can be reversible so that one side could be plain and the other could be written on with fabric paint from your daughter. She could opt to use either side. Put a pocket in it if you want to that you could slide a photo of your dauther into. Women always need totes and this one would for sure be a favorite and be fairly inexpensive.

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What about one of those matted picture frames that allows you to write around the picture? You could take a picture of your daughter's class and then have each student write a note to the teacher. Be sure to check with the principal first, as some students may not be able to have their pictures taken.

Or, a clay flower pot with fingerpainted thumb prints from all of the students filled with a potted plant. You could write the year and the grade on it with a paint pen.

Whatever you decide, I am sure that it will be appreciated. Have fun!

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I was going to say a scrapbook of some kind... and read that someone said that too. Maybe a few letters from other parents and kids and photos/ drawings. Then leave room for stuff she has collected over the years.

I had a class that made me a handprint book (i was moving)then the parents wrote sweet notes...i still browse through it..I love it!

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Just a thought but what about having your daughter create a children's book with a story and art work. The book can describe her experience at school with her teacher and then you can have it printed and bound online.

http://www.ubuildabook.com/childrens-book-publisher.html

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I sew purses and bags a lot. You can find patterns that don't require a lot of fabric and ones were the patterns aren't too expensive. I would probably give her some sort of bag. Another cute Idea would be a cute paper frame of some sort. You can find lots of things at Hobby Lobby to help you with this. Then you could take a picture of just your daughter and the teacher or you can take one of the whole class. Hope this is helpful. Glad you had forewarning for your daughter's sake.

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As a teacher I know that the most precious gifts I get are when parents and students tell me how much I have made an impression on their child or when former students e-mail me to tell me what is going on in their world. With that in mind, maybe you could make a scrapbook type thing with letters and pictures from other teachers and administrators and from current and former students. As teachers all we want is for our students to succeed and to feel as though we inspired them in some small way.

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Apron with drawing on it can be made with the fabic paint along with some pictures of the kids.
Both can be kept without takeing up space and the apron can be used and washed.

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This is something I have experience with !! When my son (now 11 yrs) was about the same age we had the same situation. So, also being a cub scout mom, I went to Michael's and got some white/ivory blank greeting cards and envelopes. Then we went out picking "flowers"...(although some of his were weeds (LOL)) and we pressed them and glued them to the note cards. Then, for the back, where it shows who made it, I used the computer to put "With love...and his name". You could also use a rubber stamp impression or just write it. I packaged them up nicely with a ribbon and plastic flower, put them in a small box, and he gave them to her. He told her all about how he made them, and which were his favorites. And, his thank-you note back from this teacher was actually his "favorite" card with a hand written note !! Teachers love things the kids make and the stories that go along with it. Plus, they are notorious for sending hand-written notes. Personally, I told her she could even put them in small frames and hang them in a powder room or something if she wanted. It is a take off from the MD Anderson...kids made cads, but everyone lives them !! She did too, and we had a great time making them, and it taught my kids about pressed flowers.

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Hands down, most women love to be pampered but never take the time to do it. If you do not mind sharing the gift with other mom's or teachers, pull together and get a spa gift certificate for a facial, pedicure/manicure or one hour massage. She'll love it!

Good luck...

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What about a letter from your daughter in some sort of notebook/scrapbook with a photo of your daughter and/or a picture she has drawn? I am a retired high school teacher of 38 years, so I didn't get very many gifts, but one year a group of seniors took a picture of themselves and put it in a frame they made and decorated themselves out of card stock. I have it displayed with my family photos on top of the bookcase.
In long careers we teachers have many students, but personal memorabilia really means a lot!

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Do you have any idea what she enjoys to do outside of teaching - gardening, cooking, whatever. Get her gift card for it. Or plant a tree in her honor at the school campus with a ceramic tile you can write on as a permanent plaque. Or compile a journal of your daughters and yours thoughts about her as a teacher and get others to do so also. Check with the school's social committee (usually headed by another teacher) and see what they have planned and get in on it. Good luck!

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Do you have a local newspaper that everyone reads?
Write a letter to the editor, the school principal, and the school board, sharing the special activities that she does with the students, how much they have benefitted from having
her as a teacher, how she has helped them grow; how there will be a great loss with the retirement of this teacher, and that you are so glad that daughter had this time with her.
This is a priceless tribute to her dedication in the teaching field.

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As a teacher, I can say it's being appreciated that means the most. Are you familiar with Wordle? You can put in her name and all the words you and your daughter can come up with to describe her and show appreciation. You can play around with font, colors, etc. Then print in color and have it framed. We did one for my boss for her birthday last week, and she was moved to tears.

http://www.wordle.net/

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I think it would be neat to sew her an apron or a bag and let the kids write their name on it. Make her something she could use again and again.

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I don't know if you'll have time to pull this together, but Orietal Trading offers simple quilt squares that each child could decorate and you could sew together. When I left as a jr hi math teacher (to raise my family), the English teacher had each student write a note to me and put them in a scrapbook.(this would be less time consuming) Whenever I'm feeling "school-sick" I can read some of the touching, funny, creative letters the students wrote.

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You can obviously go overboard with time and energy put in this gift. I was thinking more simply - How about a large storage box (Rubbermaid or otherwise), that you and your daughter decorate and then give it to her with a special note that encourages her to store her fantastic memories of teaching inside...then its content is always wrapped in your child's love for her. It is useful and simple.

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my mom and i made a small quilt for our children's sunday school teacher at church....you could cut out squares and have your daughter draw pictures or write sayins on them and then you accent with other colored squares...i wish i had a picture to share cause it was so cute and the teacher loved it so much but if you are a sewer then you probably know what i am taking about...but if you have any questions feel free to write back...good luck and God Bless!

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How handy are you w/ a camera? My sister took photos of old yearbook pictures and pictures that the principals office and school library had for years. She downloaded them and made a CD -- put together a slide show and included music. The CD turned out so well, it was played in the auditorium for the whole school while the retiring librarian watched. Not a dry eye!! I bet there are a lot of photos over the years that have been kept at the school library. You could take photos of kids holding up signs that say "we'll miss you" or "thank you for making a difference", something like that, and include them on the CD. A great song to include might be Louis Armstrong's song "It's a Wonderful World". Even if you can't get the CD to her by Tuesday, she would treasure it whenever you gave it to her. Anyway, it was a BIG hit with the lady who retired at the school where my sister volunteered. If you don't have the time to do it by yourself, someone else might be able to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help...your heart is in the right place! Good luck.

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Dear K.,

This may be repeat suggestions....but I have done this several times with both of my children's teachers and they have loved it! We passed out colored card stock paper to all the students in the class and ask them to decorate the paper. They needed to include a picture of themself somewhere on the paper. It could be a real photo or a color copy glued on. Little ones can draw, use stickers, etc. Older kids can write why they love their teacher or what is their favorite thing they have learned from their teacher, etc. We did this as a complete surprise. We passed out the sheet with the letter of explanation in manilla envelopes and had the kids return them to me. We then took the pages and made it into a book. We have lamented all the pages,or just the front and back covers, etc. and used the spiral binding. We were able to use supplies from our school. The school secretary also helped us bind the book. At our school, the teachers always prepare scrapbooks for each child for that school year and a few have commented that in all their years, they had never received a scrapbook back from their class! They have all loved it! If you do not have the time to coordinate the class, just make a book from your daughter. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. The other thing we did was find out a list of our teacher's favorite things...ie: coffee, candles, Target, Michaels, kinds of food, etc. and made a list of her favorites. Classmates that wanted to participate saw me and signed up to bring a $10 to $20 gift certificate (or whatever amount they wished). We had two teachers, so if you signed up for lets say Starbucks, you would purchase 2 certificates and then sign them from the class. We then tied the gift certificates to a little Christmas tree...this could be replaced with a cute tote bag, box, wreath, etc. for the time of year. We did do this in plenty of time so that the entire class could participate if they wanted to. Another idea would be to have each child decorate a square of fabric and you sew it together into a cute pillow or little quilt blanket for her. You could also take a quick class picture and print it out and buy an frame and mat...they have great ones at Walmart (for around 10.00)and have each child sign the mat around the photo. You can write a nice saying or bible verse with a sharpie marker below the class picture, or her years of service to the children. I know your time is short...so hopefully some of these ideas will help! Email me if you need some more! Good luck...Wonderful teachers are truly a blessing!
Elizabeth

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